TL Baseball: Brown looks for healthy second half

Shawn ShroyerSports Writer

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, June 30, 2009

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TL Baseball: Brown looks for healthy second half

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By Shawn Shroyer

Sports Writer

Corey Brown was one of nine RockHounds to appear in Tuesday's Texas League All-Star game. However, an all-star selection wasn't nearly enough to satisfy Brown the way the first half of this season has gone for him.

After hitting 30 home runs and driving in 83 runs in 134 games last season, Brown has been limited to 40 games this season by injuries, most recently tendinitis in his left knee.

"It sucks, but to get back to 100 percent, the only thing they can think of is rest," Brown said. "But to rest enough for that to happen would be a month or two doing completely nothing. So, we're doing as much as we can to get through the season."

Sitting out two months isn't an option for Brown, who plays the game full bore and would be in the lineup every day if he could. So, the plan heading into the second half of the season is to play Brown a day or two at a time and then give him a day off.

For a club looking to win the second half title, not having Brown available on a daily basis is a significant blow to the RockHounds. Midland resumes the second half today after the all-star break in Arkansas.

"It's fun to watch Corey play," RockHounds manager Darren Bush said. "We'll need him. He's a real talented player, but his health is more important than playing every single day."

What makes this situation especially tough for Brown is the fact he's worked so hard to become the kind of player a manager can put in the lineup every day.

As a left-handed hitter, Brown actually has a higher batting average against left-handed pitchers.

"He's learned to stay on top of the ball," Bush said. "Left-handers have to throw it over the plate just like a right-hander and once you get that mindset it's a little bit easier."

And despite playing in just over half the RockHounds games this season, he remains a team leader in RBI, total bases, on-base percentage and batting average. His .542 slugging percentage and .941 OPS lead the club.

As a center fielder, Brown takes great pride in his defense and regularly sacrifices his body to leap into walks and make diving catches.

Unfortunately for Brown, that style of play has resulted in two stints on the disabled list already this season. On June 7, Brown was forced to leave a game early after making a diving catch in the second inning.

While Brown's body might be better served by him bringing down his intensity when he's on the field, that isn't an option either.

"If I'm playing, I'm going to play 100 percent whether it hurts or not," Brown said. "I'm not going to cheat myself or cheat the team."

MRT's Texas League All-First Half team

C Manny Pina, Frisco

.275, 6 HR, 30 RBI

Pina is the next in a long line of good catchers to play for Frisco the past few years, following Max Ramirez and Taylor Teagarden. Pina is the defensive leader for the RoughRiders and one of the team's best hitters.

1B Justin Smoak, Frisco

.331, 6 HR, 29 RBI

The 2008 first round pick of the Texas Rangers has proven to be one of the league's most dangerous hitters. Even though he's only played in 48 games because of a strained oblique, Smoak has been very productive at the plate and could be a late season call-up to the majors.

2B Adrian Cardenas, Midland

.344, 2 HR, 47 RBI

Cardenas is probably more of a utility guy after seeing time at not only second base and shortstop but also recently at third base. The No. 5 ranked prospect in the Oakland A's organization by Baseball America also had a short stint at Triple-A Sacramento and has been one of the RockHounds' most consistent hitters.

3B Tommy Everidge, Midland

.306, 8 HR, 53 RBI

Everidge continued this season where he left off in a superb 2008, as he was not only one of the RockHounds' but one of the league's best hitters this season. Everidge earned a promotion to Triple-A Sacramento on June 8 and still ranks fourth in the league in RBI.

SS Wladimir Sutil, Corpus Christi

.298, 1 HR, 25 RBI

Sutil is arguably the most dynamic shortstop in the league with great range and arm strength. He is also a very solid hitter for the Hooks as he is third on the team in batting average and usually bats in the leadoff spot.

OF Mike Baxter, San Antonio

.376, 4 HR, 45 RBI

Despite being promoted early this month to Triple-A Portland, Baxter still leads the league in batting average. He also leads the league with a .559 slugging percentage and ranks in the top three with a .441 on-base percentage.

OF Andrew Locke, Corpus Christi

.325, 11 HR, 72 RBI

Locke has been very impressive in his first season in Double-A as nobody has had more clutch hits than he has with his league-leading RBI total. Locke also ranks seventh in batting average and sixth with a .507 slugging percentage.

OF Tyler Henley, Springfield

.327, 6 HR, 38 RBI

The Colleyville Heritage graduate and former Rice University standout has made a splash in his first season in Double-A ball. He leads the Cardinals in batting average and ranks fifth in the league with a .512 slugging percentage.

DH Chris Carter, Midland

.302, 13 HR, 59 RBI

After a somewhat slow start, as far as power numbers go, Carter has turned into one of the premier power hitters in the league as his 13 homers ranks second. The No. 6-ranked prospect in the Oakland A's organization by Baseball America is not only a Texas League All-Star but was recently selected to play in the Futures Game during Major League Baseball's All-Star week in St. Louis.

SP Trey Hearne, Springfield

8-1 , 2.85 ERA

The 25-year-old Lufkin native and former Texas A&M-Corpus Christi hurler has turned in his best season as a pro as he is the league leader in victories. The right-hander ranks fourth in the Texas League in ERA, and while he still needs to cut down on his walks (31), his 63 strikeouts rank sixth in the league.

SP Esmil Rogers, Tulsa

7-2, 2.68 ERA

Rogers has been one of the most dominating right-handers in the league this season. His 75 strikeouts rank second in the league and that is against just 17 walks. The No. 7-rated prospect in the Colorado Rockies organization by Baseball America is also third in the league in ERA.

SP Ernesto Frieri, San Antonio

7-4, 3.46 ERA

Unquestionably the ace of the Missions' pitching staff, Frieri is also among the league's best right-handers. He is another pitcher that needs to cut down on his walks (31) but his 65 strikeouts tie with Midland's Graham Godfrey for fourth in the league.

RP Evan Scribner, San Antonio

4-1, 2.02 ERA, 13 saves

He may not lead the league in saves but he is one of the most reliable and dominating closers around. He has struck out 35 and has only walked nine, and has allowed just 24 hits in 35 2/3 innings of work.